The Killer Angels: Friday, July 3, 1863: Chapter 3 Summary & Analysis

After their lone stand on Little Round Top, Chamberlain and his men are now in the very middle of the army. The lieutenant guiding them to their new position, Pitzer, tells Chamberlain that Meade had nearly ordered the whole army to withdraw that morning, but had been voted down by all the corps commanders, Hancock standing especially firm. Pitzer places Chamberlain’s regiment in reserve behind the crest of Cemetery Hill.

Chamberlain is hungry and lonely. A messenger comes from General Sykes, requesting Chamberlain’s company. The messenger leads him up the crest of the hill, and Chamberlain finds himself in the presence of Hancock, a “picture-book soldier.” He perks up and straightens his uniform before passing him. Hancock is surrounded by generals, all of them eating chicken. Still without rations, Chamberlain’s mouth waters. When he is introduced to Sykes, the general looks at him appraisingly, notes his civilian background, and asks to hear more about Chamberlain’s actions on Little Round Top.

Sykes commends Chamberlain’s actions and tells him that the army needs more fighting men like him, whether Regular Army or not. Then he sends him off to get some rest, since nothing is going to happen today. Chamberlain thanks him and asks about rations, which Sykes asks a lieutenant to see to. Then Chamberlain begins limping painfully back to his men, “a picturesque figure,” ragged, blood-spattered, without having shaved or changed clothes in a week. He is so tired that he stumbles directly past the mouth of a cannon.

When Chamberlain passes the generals again, Meade has joined them. Chamberlain can “feel the massed power … like being near great barrels of gunpowder.” A lieutenant approaches him respectfully and asks if he can be of service. Chamberlain swallows his pride and asks for food, and the lieutenant brings him three pieces of chicken, “awful but marvelous.” Chamberlain shares most of the chicken when he reaches his camp and then works on wrapping his bleeding foot. He sees Tom approach and thinks about sending Tom to plug the hole in the line, the only jarring memory from yesterday. “Some things a man cannot be asked to do,” he thinks; “this whole war is concerned with the killing of brothers.” He makes up his mind that Tom will have to be moved elsewhere.

Tom’s expression shows that something is wrong. Tom tells Chamberlain that the hospital is a mess, with amputations being done out in the open. Chamberlain asks him about Kilrain. Tom finally admits that Kilrain has died. Chamberlain’s senses come sharply into focus as he absorbs the news. Kilrain died before Tom reached him that morning and had left word to tell Chamberlain goodbye and that he was sorry. His wounds did not kill him; his heart had given out. The brothers sit quietly for a moment. Chamberlain struggles to accept that Kilrain’s steady presence is gone forever.

There is the sharp report of a single cannon, then another. Then there is “the long roar as of the whole vast rumbling earth beginning to open.” Everyone lies facedown as the air is filled with relentless explosions and smoke. As the Union guns reply, the thunderous noise lulls Chamberlain to sleep. He wakes up once, amazed to see Hancock riding calmly along the crest of the ridge. He listens to the “great orchestra of death” and thinks that he would not have missed this spectacle for anything. Finally, he falls asleep again.